Mightier Than the Sword edited by Devin Aisling/Corvi the Cro

The goal of MTTS is to help young writers generate ideas by giving hints and providing writing prompts.  MTTS also wants to recognize good writing by holding contests and soliciting readers' contributions.  Each issue will have a new theme.  This issue's themes are haiku, limerick, and acrosti

Winter by Meg Stapleton

Cardinal by Meg Stapleton

Snow falls on the ground, Covers the world in whiteness - I am at peace now

Cardinal on a tree Eating berries in the snow Splash of red gives hope.

Dawn by Devin Aisling

Hazel by Devin Aisling

The bird in the yard Softly sings as I listen. It sees me watch

Soft chestnut brown fur, Wild and carefree in the grass, I long to be you.

Bored by Devin Aisling

There was a young girl from Ohio Who sat on her bed just to cry-o. She said she was bored And cried out "Oh Lord!" "If I don't go do something I'll die-o!"

I Love You by Devin Aisling

In the middle of the night

L ittle thoughts come to me Of how much I love you- Very much. Ever and always

Y ou are mine, On through eternity, Up to the sk

Happiness by Viollette Serenina Annatalia

Hope Angels Peace Prosperity Ingenuity Neopolitan Ice Cream Ever-lasting love Soulfulness Sincerit

Tips and Prompts  In the poems above you can find examples of haiku, limerick, and acrostic.  Examples of haiku include Winter, Cardinal, Dawn, and Hazel.  Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry.  It consists of a 17 syllable stanza in the pattern of 5 syllables on the first line, 7 on the second line, and 5 on the third.  Haiku typically deals with nature, but can be written about any topic.  It is written as a complete meditative thought, and should evoke some emotion.  Sit outside (or look out from a window) for at least fifteen minutes, merely observing nature.  After fifteen minutes, begin writing freely about what you see.  You may also want to write down how it makes you feel.  Do this for as long as you wish.  Look over what you wrote.  Add or remove syllables or words from each thought until you get phrases or sentences that fit the 5-7-5 syllable pattern.  For example, in Winter, Meg first said "Snow falling on the ground."  She changed falling to falls to fit the pattern.  Also, ask yourself what feeling each thought expresses.  Reword the poem until it expresses that emotion.

Limericks, such as Bored, are very structured, humorous poems.  A limerick is composed of 5 lines, in an a-a-b-b-a rhyming pattern.  In addition, the first, second and fifth lines are usually 3 anapestic feet (2 unstressed syllables followed by 1 stressed) each. The third and fourth lines are usually 2 anapestic feet.  Limericks introduce a character in the first line, tell something about them in the second line, have something happen to them in the third and fourth lines, and make a witty or sarcastic observation about the situation in the fifth line.  Experiment, make up rhymes, and above all have fun!

Acrostics, such as I Love You and Happiness, are poems where the first letters of each line form a word when you read them looking downward. A very complicated acrostic would also have the last letter of each line forming a separate word as you read downward.  Choose a word that means something to you.  It can be the name of a crush, a pet, someone you look up to, or it can be a cherished object or a nature word.  For example, the word SPRING.  Now write one letter of the word on each line. S P R I N G Think of what the word means to you.  What s-words do I associate with Spring?  Soft rain... smells of flowers and freshness... seeing new life emerge...  sweet breezes promising renewal...   Come up with as many phrases as you wish.  Do this for each letter.  Then choose the phrases that fit together best and construct your poem

We want your writing!  You can send in original writing to MTTS at any time.  Authors retain all rights to their works.  Next month's themes will be prewriting and brainstorming techniques.  E-mail submissions to the editor.  Please put MTTS on the subject line.*Submissions may be edited for spelling or grammar.  Submission of a work gives the editor the right to publish the work in ANY future issue of MTTS.  At any time the work is published, the author will be notified.*

If you would like to have MTTS delivered to your inbox monthly, e-mail the editor with SUBSCRIBE in the subject l

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